Being a parent is one of the greatest joys and one of the biggest goals for most people. Watching an offspring grow every day is something that brings immense joy and satisfaction to parents but that does come at a cost. The initial years can be extremely time-consuming for the parents as the child is not self-sufficient yet. This does affect the parents’ careers and also the free time that they have on hand. For some, like WWE superstars the choice between children and career is clear as daylight but for others, it is not that straightforward.
Ronda Rousey’s Entry Into the World of WWE
Rousey first made a name for herself as the face of the UFC. ‘Rowdy’ was the inaugural UFC bantamweight champion and went on to defend her title a record-breaking six times before running into Holly Holm. After two consecutive brutal losses against Holm, Rousey decided to hang up her gloves and explore other avenues, primarily, WWE.
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Not the Heartiest Welcome by the WWE World
In just a little over a year, Rousey accomplished things as a WWE athlete that most people dream of. She made her debut at WrestleMania 34, a year later, she was the main event at WrestleMania 35 where she defended her RAW women’s title. After the event, the former UFC champion took a hiatus from action as she wanted to focus on personal matters. It was later revealed that one of the main reasons for the break was that Rousey wanted to start a family with her long-time partner Travis Browne. ‘Rowdy’ has always maintained that having a good family life is of paramount importance to her.
Her time in the WWE has been a mixed bag, she has not yet completely been assimilated by the WWE audience and there is a huge portion of the fan base that still does not like her inclusion in the sport. It will be interesting to see if this sentiment changes over time given Rousey’s tenure with the WWE is just a few years old.
Family Over Everything
Being a WWE athlete is a significant commitment, there is a lot of time away from the family thanks to practice, travel, and other commitments that may arise. This only amplifies once you’re a champion and a face for women in the pro-wrestling world. This was not a sacrifice Rousey was willing to make while bringing a child into the world which was one of the main reasons behind her hiatus.
In a recent video posted on her YouTube channel, Rousey is seen answering Natalya who questioned her commitment to being a champion. ‘Rowdy’ said, “Nattie you’re right. I don’t want this as much as you. Unlike you, I’m not going to pass up having kids. Not miss a day of wrestling in 10 years.”
Did Serena Williams Have the Same View?
While a lot of female athletes juggle professional and parental commitments in tandem, Serena Williams was of a different view. She believed that she could give her 100% to only one area and therefore decided to walk away from the sport she loved to focus on her child. She said, “I never wanted to have to choose between tennis and a family. I don’t think it’s fair. I definitely don’t want to be pregnant again as an athlete. I need to be two feet into tennis or two feet out.”
